Paolo Venturella Architecture has been commissioned to design a proposal for an Italian office building. The inventive structure uses existing contextual information, such as the grid of the city and an abandoned soccer field on which it sits, to drive its parametric design. The resulting building not only makes use of an otherwise forgotten plot of land, but fits precisely into the urban fabric of the existing city layout, using its grid to shape the building.
The building uses a rotation pattern that shifts in various directions to accommodate the differing levels and grids occupied by the site, as well as to join the ground and form a seamless transition between itself and the existing park. Its horizontal and vertical elements are called out in contrasting colors, forcing the viewer's perception from various perspectives. Additionally, the facade's gradient effect generated by the colors illuminates the concept of pixels and highlights how its parametric geometry shifts based on the function behind it.
Programmatically, the structure acts as an addition to the park, providing necessary parking at its base. It also houses a conference area and office spaces in the upper levels, as well as a restaurant, creating a fusion of public and commercial spaces. Similarly, the facade's shifting contours are located at various heights to allow the usable commercial spaces above, while simulating external steps below which draw the public in from the park.
The "zig-zag" facade enables the southern facing balconies to be free of glass, thereby maintaining controlled indirect daylighting for the offices within. Along this side of the building are the small-occupancy rooms, namely offices, while the cooler north side holds the larger-occupancy meeting rooms, thus systematically using program to account for the natural temperature conditions of the space.
Architects
Architect in Charge
Paolo VenturellaDesign Team
Cosimo Scotucci, Gradient Solutions, AHSite Area
8.200sqmBuilding Height
42mArea
15000.0 sqmProject Year
2014Photographs
Courtesy of Paolo Venturella ArchitectureProject Year
2014Photographs
Area
15000.0 m2
